US6813981B2 - Apparatus and method for cutting cables and wires - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are disclosed for cutting cable. The apparatus has an elongate handle with a longitudinal axis extending from a first to a second end. An eyelet extends from the second end and defines an opening through which the cable is inserted. A first cutting surface slides within the elongate handle and extends beyond the inner wall of the eyelet. When the end of the cable is inserted into the opening of the eyelet, the first cutting surface may be extended beyond the inner wall of the eyelet and into contact with the cable. As the handle is rotated about the cable, the first cutting surface cuts the cable. A second cutting surface may protrude from the handle for slitting an outer sheath of the cable.

Description

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but the copyright owner otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to hand tools and, more particularly, to cutlery for cutting strand-encircling sheath.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hand tools have been used to cut electrical wires and cables. These hand tools are often designed to cut coaxial cable, copper conductors, fiber optic cables, and other combinations of cable. Some of these hand tools are designed to strip insulation from the cable and wire, and some of these hand tools are also designed to crimp connectors onto the cut and stripped cable and wire. Although these hand tools have long been used, these prior art hand tools have a common problem. These prior art hand tools do not adequately shield the cutting surface. As the technician uses these prior art hand tools, the technician's fingers are often cut by the cutting surface. There is, accordingly, a need for a hand tool that shields the technician's fingers from the cutting surface while cutting and stripping electrical wires and cables.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned problems, and other problems, are reduced by an apparatus and method for cutting cable. This invention is an apparatus that allows a technician to cut cables and wires, yet this invention protects the technician's fingers from the cutting surface. This invention also allows the technician to quickly and to easily slit an outer sheath of the cables and wires. One embodiment of this invention describes an apparatus for cutting cable. This apparatus comprises an elongate handle, an eyelet extending from the handle, and a first cutting surface sliding within the handle. The elongate handle has a first end and a second end. The elongate handle defines a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end. The eyelet extends from the second end of the elongate handle, and the eyelet has an inner wall defining an axis of the eyelet. The inner wall of the eyelet also defines an opening through which an end of the cable is inserted. A first cutting surface slides within a hollow interior portion of the elongate handle. The first cutting surface slides between a first position and a second position. The first position retracts the first cutting surface within the hollow interior portion of the elongate handle, and the second position extends the first cutting surface beyond the inner wall of the eyelet. When the end of the cable is inserted into and through the opening of the eyelet, the first cutting surface may be slid to extend beyond the inner wall of the eyelet and into contact with the cable. As the handle is rotated about the cable, the first cutting surface cuts the cable.

Another embodiment of this invention describes a method for cutting cable. An end of the cable is inserted into an eyelet of a handle. A first cutting surface extends from within the handle and into contact with the cable. The handle is rotated around the cable to cut the cable. The cut cable is then positioned to a second cutting surface protruding from the handle. The handle is slid along an outer sheath of the cable such that the second cutting surface slices the outer sheath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description of the Invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating an apparatus according to this invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematics showing two positions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing an alternative embodiment of this invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematics showing another alternative embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for cutting cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating anapparatus10 according to this invention. Theapparatus10 comprises anelongate handle12, asingle eyelet14 extending from thehandle12, and afirst cutting surface16 sliding within thehandle12. Theelongate handle12 has afirst end18 and asecond end20. Theelongate handle10 defines a longitudinal axis L₁—L₁(shown as reference numeral22) extending from thefirst end18 to thesecond end20. Theeyelet14 extends from thesecond end20 of theelongate handle10. Theeyelet14 has aninner wall24 defining an axis L₂—L₂(shown as reference numeral26) of the eyelet. Theinner wall24 of theeyelet14 also defines anopening28 through which anend30 of acable32 is inserted.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematics showing two positions of thefirst cutting surface16. FIG. 2 shows a first position of thefirst cutting surface16, while FIG. 2 shows a second position of thefirst cutting surface16. FIG. 2 shows thefirst cutting surface16 retracted within a hollow interior portion of theelongate handle12. When thefirst cutting surface16 is in retracted to this first position, theend30 of thecable32 may be inserted into and through theopening28. FIG. 3, then, shows the second position of thefirst cutting surface16. This second position has thefirst cutting surface16 extending beyond theinner wall24 of theeyelet14. When theend30 of thecable32 is inserted into and through theopening28 of theeyelet14, thefirst cutting surface16 slides to extend beyond theinner wall24 of theeyelet14 and into contact with thecable32. As thehandle12 is rotated about thecable32, thefirst cutting surface16 cuts thecable32. FIGS. 2 and 3 also illustrate the protective feature of this invention. Theeyelet14 surrounds thefirst cutting surface16, thus creating a safety shield around the first cutting surface. Theeyelet14 protects a technician's fingers from the sharpfirst cutting surface16.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of theapparatus10 shown in FIGS. 1-3. Theelongate handle12 comprisesright half34 and aleft half36. The right34 and left36 halves fit together in a clam shell arrangement. Thefirst cutting surface16 slides within a hollowinterior portion38 of theelongate handle12. This hollowinterior portion38 of thehandle12 resembles achannel40 into which thefirst cutting surface16 reposes. Thefirst cutting surface16 is typically areplaceable razor blade42. When the right34 and left36 halves are separated, therazor blade42 may be removed from thechannel40 and replaced with a fresh, sharp blade. Thefirst cutting surface16 slides along the longitudinal axis L₁—L₁(shown as reference numeral22) of thehandle12. Theeyelet14 extends from thesecond end20 of theelongate handle12, such that the axis L₂—L₂(shown as reference numeral26) of theeyelet14 is aligned along the longitudinal axis L₁—L₁of thehandle12.

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing an alternative embodiment of theapparatus10 according to this invention. Here theapparatus10 comprises asecond cutting surface44 protruding from thehandle12. Thissecond cutting surface44 allows a user to slit anouter sheath46 of thecable32. Thecable32 is positioned to thesecond cutting surface44, and the handle is slid along the outer sheath of the cable such that thesecond cutting surface44 slices the outer sheath. Because thesecond cutting surface44 is designed to only slice theouter sheath46 of thecable32, thesecond cutting surface44 protrudes from thehandle12 an amount not exceeding about one eighth of an inch (0.125 inch). Although FIG. 5 shows thesecond cutting surface44 protruding from abottom surface48 of thehandle12, thesecond cutting surface44 could also protrude from atop surface50 of thehandle12.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematics showing another alternative embodiment of theapparatus10 according to this invention. Here thesecond cutting surface44 protrudes from thebottom surface48 at thefirst end18 of thehandle12. Thesecond cutting surface44, however, has a first position and a second position. FIG. 6 shows the first position having thesecond cutting surface44 protruding from anaperture52 in thehandle12, while FIG. 7 shows the second position having thesecond cutting surface44 retracted within thehandle12. Apush button54 extends from atop aperture56 in thetop surface50 of thehandle12. Thepush button54 and thesecond cutting surface44 are connected by a so-called “double-clicking mechanism”58. This double-clickingmechanism58 resembles a clicking-type ball point pen assembly. A clickingrod60 is projected by depression of thepush button54, and the clickingrod60 is retracted by another depression of thepush button54. Areturn spring62 provides a biasing force that urges the clickingrod60 upward.

Theapparatus10, shown in FIGS. 1-7, may also comprise means for extending and retracting thefirst cutting surface16. A thumb slide, for example, would allow a person to single-handedly hold theapparatus10 and, yet, extend and retract thefirst cutting surface16. The thumb slide would connect to thefirst cutting surface16 and slide along a slot in an outer surface of thehandle12. The means for extending and retracting thefirst cutting surface16 may also include one or more springs to bias thefirst cutting surface16 to the retracted or the extended position. Theelongate handle12 may also include a graduated portion for measuring the extension of thefirst cutting surface16 beyond theinner wall24 of theeyelet14.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for cutting cable. An end of the cable is inserted into an eyelet of a handle (Block62). A first cutting surface extends from within the handle and into contact with the cable (Block64). The handle is rotated around the cable to cut the cable (Block66). The cut cable is then positioned to a second cutting surface protruding from the handle (Block68). The handle is slid along an outer sheath of the cable (Block70) such that the second cutting surface slices the outer sheath.

While the present invention has been described with respect to various features, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and unskilled in the art will recognize the invention is not so limited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (4)

What is claimed is:

1. A method for cutting a cable, comprising:

inserting an end of the cable into an eyelet of a handle;

extending a first cutting surface into contact with the cable;

rotating the handle around the cable to cut the cable;

pushing a button of a double-clicking mechanism to extend a second cutting surface from the handle, the second cutting surface for slitting an outer sheath of the cable, wherein depression of the push button causes the double-clicking mechanism to extend the second cutting surface to the first position, and wherein another depression of the push button causes the double-clicking mechanism to retract the second cutting surface to the second position,

positioning the cable to the second cutting surface protruding from the handle; and

sliding the handle along an outer sheath of the cable such that the second cutting surface slices the outer sheath.

2. An apparatus for cutting cable, comprising:

an elongate handle having a first end and a second end, the elongate handle defining a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end;

an eyelet extending from the second end of the elongate handle, the eyelet having an inner wall defining an axis of the eyelet, the inner wall of the eyelet also defining an opening through which an end of the cable is inserted;

a first cutting surface sliding within a hollow interior portion of the elongate handle, the first cutting surface sliding to retract within the hollow interior portion of the elongate handle, the first cutting surface also sliding to extend beyond the inner wall of the eyelet;

a second cutting surface for slitting an outer sheath of the cable, the second cutting surface having a first position and a second position, the first position having the second cutting surface protrude from the handle, and the second position having the second cutting surface retract within the handle; and

a double-clicking mechanism connecting a push button to the second cutting surface, wherein depression of the push button causes the double-clicking mechanism to extend the second cutting surface to the first position, and wherein another depression of the push button causes the double-clicking mechanism to retract the second cutting surface to the second position,

wherein when the end of the cable is inserted into and through the opening of the eyelet, the first cutting surface may be slid to extend beyond the inner wall of the eyelet and into contact with the cable, and as the handle is rotated about the cable, the first cutting surface cuts the cable.

3. An apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the eyelet extends from the second end of the elongate handle such that the axis of the eyelet is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the handle.

4. An apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the first cutting surface slides along the longitudinal axis of the handle, the first cutting surface sliding between the first position and the second position.

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